Description

The Atlantic Queen Triggerfish or Queen Triggerfish (Balistes Vetula) or Old Wife is a reef dwelling Triggerfish found in the Atlantic Ocean. The body is regally colored with purple, blue, turquoise, green and yellow with light blue lines on the fins and head (hence the name queen) and it can change color somewhat to match its surroundings, or if subjected to stress. The Queen Triggerfish reaches 24″ inches in size, though most are about half that length.

The Queen Triggerfish is typically found at coral and rocky reefs in depths of 9–902 ft and sometimes over areas with sand or seagrass. In the western Atlantic, it ranges from Canada to southern Brazil, and in the eastern Atlantic it is found at Ascension, Cape Verde, Azores and south of Angola. It is reasonably common in Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

As one of the largest and most aggressive of the Triggerfish, the Queen Triggerfish is rarely a good choice as a resident in a marine aquarium. It is however a hardy fish for those who can provide it with a proper environment. Because it grows so large and so quickly the minimum aquarium for this fish is a 500-gallon aquarium. It preys on a variety of invertebrates, notably sea urchins. In aquariums shrimp, squid, clams, octopus, scallops, and crab are all good choices of food.